LAREDAR Webinar Series: Advancing Knowledge on Lakes and Reservoirs in Flood Risk Management

Between February and March 2026, the LAREDAR project successfully delivered a series of three thematic webinars aimed at strengthening knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement on the role of lakes and reservoirs in flood risk management across the Danube River Basin.

Organised by Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe (GWP CEE), the webinar series addressed key stages of the topic, from identifying challenges to showcasing practical tools, while bringing together a broad range of stakeholders, including water management authorities, researchers, policymakers, and international organisations .

Three webinars – three complementary perspectives

The series consisted of the following sessions:

• 1st Webinar (10 February 2026)
  “Challenges and needs related to lakes and reservoirs in flood risk management in the Danube River Basin”

• 2nd Webinar (26 February 2026)
  “Current situation regarding the role, status, and use of lakes and reservoirs in reducing flood peaks”

• 3rd Webinar (19 March 2026)
  “Practical applications of the LAREDAR GIS tool and its role in supporting flood risk management decisions across the Danube River Basin”

Each webinar was structured as a 90-minute interactive online session, combining expert presentations with moderated discussions and participatory elements.

Diverse expertise and high-level speakers

The webinar series featured a mix of technical experts, policy representatives, and practitioners, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of flood risk management.

Speakers included:

• representatives of national water authorities (e.g. KÖTIVIZIG),

• policy-level experts linked to macro-regional strategies (e.g. EUSDR Priority Area 5),

• researchers and academics from leading universities,

• specialists from international river basin organisations and GIS platforms.

Their contributions ranged from strategic and policy-oriented perspectives to highly technical insights on modelling, GIS systems, and reservoir operation.

For example, the first webinar included presentations addressing basin-wide challenges and policy coordination, while later sessions introduced operational systems such as SAVA GIS and explored interoperability between existing platforms and the emerging LAREDAR GIS tool .

From challenges to solutions

The three webinars followed a logical progression:

• The first webinar focused on identifying key challenges, including data gaps, limited coordination, and increasing pressure from climate change.

• The second webinar explored existing practices and systems, highlighting both good examples and fragmentation across countries.

• The third webinar shifted towards practical application, demonstrating how tools like the LAREDAR GIS platform can support evidence-based decision-making and transnational cooperation.

Across all sessions, participants actively contributed through discussions and interactive exercises, helping to identify key needs such as improved data harmonisation, stronger institutional cooperation, and better integration of modelling and operational tools.

Strong participation and stakeholder engagement

Each webinar gathered approximately 70–80 participants, representing a wide spectrum of stakeholders from across the Danube Region. The interactive format ensured not only knowledge transfer but also active stakeholder input, which is essential for aligning project outputs with real-world needs.

Contributing to LAREDAR outputs

The insights collected during the webinar series directly support the development of key project outputs, including:

• the LAREDAR GIS platform,

• the Transnational Manual and Harmonisation Platform,

• and strategic recommendations for flood risk management.

The webinars also confirmed strong interest in practical, user-oriented tools and highlighted the importance of transnational cooperation and data sharing as central pillars for improving flood resilience in the Danube River Basin.